Make Do

Does anyone recall that term..."make do?"  It's such a stranger to many of us.

Back in the day, broken and unwanted items were not merely cast off but repaired, re-purposed and reused.  

I imagine a "make do" as a beautiful and valued possession that, even though no longer useful for it's original purpose, was just too treasured to part with, and so, was refurbished into new life and new service.

When I'm on the hunt for antiques and what-not, I actually keep an eye out for items that have been lovingly repaired into "make do" status.  I have an affinity for them.  I relate them to my very real spiritual condition.  Once I was broken and in need of repair.  Now, my spiritual status has changed and I've been turned into a new and beautiful creation...useful, wanted, treasured, saved.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5:17

While my mom was here, we had a thought to create make do pincushions and found this amazing little vase.  I also stumbled across a few fragments of ancient crazy quilt; frayed silk paired with worn velvet, held together with decorative hand stitches.  

Now my little project has truly acquired that make do character.

And, isn't it sweet to have a new lease on life?

Comments

[Julie Pishny]

Hi Deryn, I so get your message and really love the pin cushion you created with your Mom. Love the vessel, love the crazy quilt and your photography just get better and better. Thank you for sharing this heart felt story with us. I'll ziploc bags filled with quilt pieces and I have lots of little cast off vessels - maybe I'll try my hand at a nostalgic pin cushion just for fun.

[Lana]

Dear Deryn, I've enjoyed creating the make-do pincushions for several years and I must say that yours is absolutely beautiful!

Thank you for sharing how you connect it to us in a spiritual sense.

[Stephani Gorman]

Hi Deryn, I make do alot! It is something I learned from my grandmother! What a precious pin cushion & inspirational scipture! thanks, Stephani :)

[Diana Frey]

Looks as though you and your mom have been busy creating memories and treasures together. Your pincushions are sweet and what fun to make them with your mom. Miss you.
Tootles
Diana

[Pattie]

Don't you get just a little bit of a thrill when you can breath a bit of new life into someone else's forgotten treasure?? Of course I live in the Make Do capital of the world. I am amazed on a daily basis!! Nothing is ever considered trash until it has been used,re-purposed,deconstructed,reconstructed,
parted out, melted down,remade..... When it's finally thrown away you can't even tell what it originally started out life as!!

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

[Katsui Jewelry]

That is so touching. You have put words to what I wanted to make with an old agg cup I got at a garage sale. A make-do! I recall reading the term in a book at one time! I didn't know what to do with the pincushion part (exactly what I wanted to make...and need) and, of course, old tattered material. I have a lot of that. The scripture was the frosting on the cake (or perhaps that sparkly rhinestone on the top of the make-do!). Thanks for such a lovely post!

Suz

[Janie Husband]

i love this post deryn....i am off to make a pin cushion with the bottom of an very old sugar bowl i acquired from a friend who is now gone....i know she would love it...she used it for change on her kitchen window sill because the top was broken....thanks again for the memories...

[Nellie Wortman]

Great piece and I love your message in the post..it speaks volumes. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Chris]

Wonderful post Deryn~~yes, we are all broken and needing Him to find our re-purpose~~
Love the darling pincushion~
We did a lot of "make do" as a kid and they are in many of my favorite memories. Thanks for the smiles!

[Dawn]

wow. yes I remember that term. my grandma used it and just recently I started to make "make do" cuffs. for some reason though my 14 year old daughter doesn't appreciate them or the concept...

[Alice]

What a beautiful post. We live in a throw-away world, and sometimes I cringe just thinking about it. I'm sure those who have come before us are doing more than just cringing at the waste we have amassed.

Your pincushion is just beautiful!

[diane cook]

Beautiful...."make do" pincushion =)
Simply elegant.....

[Erin Prais-Hintz]

That is such a sweet little thing. To have something so beautiful be something so functional and giving it new life is a wonderful sort of resurrection.
Thank you for sharing.
Enjoy the day, Deryn!
Erin

[Denise]

What a beautiful post...

[Sherry Green Peck]

WOW...beautiful!! Do you think our affinity for re-purposed things is so ingrained in our soul because we need the re-purposing and acceptance that only the Lord can give....and sometimes we don't even realize it!! Just as you have so graciously stated...I love this post!! ...and what a great scripture!!!

[Lori B]

Yes, Make Do... I feel like my life is in that way now. I love your pretty little pin cushion showing us all there are many paths for things before we meet the end. Thank you for reminding me -- it meant a lot for me today.
Lori B.

[vintagesusie]

LOVE, Love, love this way of thinkin & I need to incorporate it more into my life style! I saw a fabulous vintage pitcher a week ago at my little local thrift store, but I could see all the cracks & repairs that had been made over the years & PASSEDon it not knowing what I'd do with it. Now I want to kick myself...I really did love it! I will go by there today & hope it's still sitting there, but I bet someone with the same mind set as you has scooped it up as a treasure. Darn...I keep trying to live my life looking with 'new eyes'. I missed this one, but THANKS for reminding me how to SEE with a new vision!!
Hugs Girl,
Susie

[sharon]

How romantically beautiful Deryn! A wonderful idea!

[emanda]

Hi Deryn,
I'm with you, I love old repurposed lovelies. I think the phrase from the old saying about being frugal:
Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make do,
or do without.

My mom is and always has been a great inspiration to me especially when it comes to frugality. It is so nice to know you have that sort of relationship with your mom too.

Emanda